Absolute And Relative Infinity

Last updated on: December 6, 2018 at 4:05 am By Henry Karlson

God is infinite, while all created beings are finite. This is a very traditional philosophical convention used to express the distinction between God’s ultimate, unlimited transcendence and the limited quality contained by contingent being. The assumption that lies behind this convention is that infinity means unlimited, implying that whatever is limited is finite. For what is finite is what is bound or limited, while the infinite is the negation of such bounds, making it unlimited and without end. This assumption... Read more

For All Have Sinned

Last updated on: December 4, 2018 at 4:41 am By Henry Karlson

In the epistle to the Romans, St. Paul references Psalm 14, where the Psalmist declared: “The LORD looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any that act wisely, that seek after God. They have all gone astray, they are all alike corrupt; there is none that does good, no, not one” (Ps. 14:2-3 RSV). Thus, we read in Paul: What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all; for I... Read more

Mystical Theology of Dionysius: Transcendental God-Talk. Conclusion. Part Three.

Last updated on: December 3, 2018 at 4:05 am By Henry Karlson

As we engage God, as we grow as a result of that engagement, our understanding and apprehension of the truth will grow. We will reflect upon what we learn, explore it and develop further our appreciation of the truth. Then, when we speak of it, we will do so in a new, improved form. It will approximative the absolute truth better while still being another form of relative truth. It will be greater than our previous exploration of the relative... Read more

American Sodomites Demand A Wall

Last updated on: November 29, 2018 at 4:06 am By Henry Karlson

The city of Sodom was a city of extreme selfishness and luxury. The people who lived there built a wall around the city to keep outsiders out so they can preserve the wealth they built up on the backs of others for themselves. While some aliens, like Lot and his family, could live side by side with the Sodomites, they were ill treated and disrespected, as the people of Sodom did not want to share their material goods with anyone.... Read more

Santa Is No Lie

Last updated on: November 27, 2018 at 8:16 am By Henry Karlson

“I don’t tell my children about Santa Clause. I don’t want to lie to them.” This is what many tell me when they explain why they do not tell their children about Santa Claus. It saddens me to see so many seek to remove the great modern myth from our heritage; while they might do so with the best of intentions, they remove a part of the joy which children around the world experience during the Christmas season. While some... Read more

Mystical Theology of Dionysius: Transcendental God-Talk. Conclusion. Part Two

Last updated on: November 26, 2018 at 4:42 am By Henry Karlson

“It is self-evident that there is no comparative relation of the infinite to the finite,” Nicholas of Cusa wrote.[1] “Therefore, it is most clear that where we find comparative degrees of greatness, we do not arrive at the unqualifiedly Maximum; for things which are comparatively greater and lesser are finite; but, necessarily, such a Maximum is infinite.”[2] For this reason, though we remain ignorant of the absolute as it is in itself, we nonetheless have an infinite possibility in regards... Read more

Inter-Religious Dialogue Is Not What Many Think It Is

Last updated on: November 23, 2018 at 4:21 am By Henry Karlson

Many people, upon hearing the term “interfaith” or “inter-religious” dialogue, misunderstand what exactly is being discussed. They think it is some sort of dialogue with the goal of creating a new, syncretic religion formed as a composite created by the various religious traditions which have come together for dialogue. That is, they think inter-religious dialogue aims for the establishment of a new religious faith. Many Christians, therefore, consider inter-religious erroneous, because they think it seeks to create an alternative religion,... Read more

Eternal Thanksgiving

Last updated on: November 20, 2018 at 7:01 am By Henry Karlson

Alexander Schmemann noted that our relationship with God will be manifest in the way we give him glory through our thanks. Thanksgiving is the state of the perfect, of those who truly love God and recognize the great gifts he has given us, including and not limited to, the forgiveness of our sins. That means, as Jesus is himself the perfect man, he himself gave the most perfect thanksgiving, making him the one true thanksgiving, the one true eucharist, by... Read more

Mystical Theology of Dionysius: Transcendental God-Talk. Conclusion. Part One

Last updated on: November 19, 2018 at 3:51 pm By Henry Karlson

God reveals himself to us, but what we can apprehend of that revelation is less than what God is in himself. We can talk about God as a result of that revelation. We can discuss, and try to understand, what we have received. We can explain our beliefs to others, knowing the limitations of all such explanations. For, when we talk about God, we must always keep in mind that God transcends anything and everything which we can say about... Read more

Was St. Paul Married?

Last updated on: November 16, 2018 at 7:03 am By Henry Karlson

It is commonly accepted that St. Paul was not married. This is how his words, “I wish that all were as I myself am” (1 Cor. 7:7a) are generally interpreted, though it was also conceded that he thought that if he wanted to be married that he had the right to marriage like the other Apostles. “Do we not have the right to be accompanied by a wife, as the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?”... Read more

What did Moses' staff turn into before Pharaoh?